Bessie

Bush. Snap bean. Plants growing 12-18" tall. Most stems have extensive purple pigmentation. Dark pink flowers. Green immature pods develop purple blush very early. Pods become yellow and develop purple stripes as they mature. Intensity of pigmentation depends upon pod exposure to direct sunlight. Straight, round pods have a long beak. Mature pods average 4" long by 0.4" wide. Weak suture string becomes strong as pod expands. Snap bean develops richer flavor as pod expands slightly. Well liked by staff as a shelling (horticultural) bean for sweet flavor. Standard productivity. Shattering dry pods average 3-5 seeds per pod. Oval dry beans have black mottle over a light greyish-purple background color. Dry beans are smooth and creamy with a good flavor. Mid-season maturing. Donated to SSE by Frances Sullivan. Named for Sullivan's aunt Bess, but originally grown by Bess' mother in Arkansas and Oklahoma, likely since before 1900. Used by the family for fresh and canned green beans. SSE Accession # 131412